Inherited Beauty and Mediterranean Secrets That Endure Through Generations

Have you ever stopped and wondered about the beautiful women through history? From Cleopatra and Nefertiti to Princess Diana and Marilyn Monroe, beauty is as old a pursuit as any. But did Cleopatra have a 15-step TikTok-inspired nighttime routine since she was 13? Probably not. 

It seems that, as a society, we have become obsessed with the way we look — perfect skin, the whitest teeth, the shiniest hair, and so on. We are willing to use almost any chemical on ourselves to achieve this ideal. All the marketing pushing me to buy yet another serum made me pause and think: what did our grandmothers do?

I was on a mission to find out.

My 76-year-old Spanish grandmother grew up in rural Spain. She was born after the civil war and during a dictatorship, when the whole country was broken and poor. She didn’t have fancy nighttime routines or expensive serums, yet she has often been mistaken for my mother. There are no miracles here, no empty promises, just simple rituals woven into our Mediterranean lifestyle: a healthy diet, plenty of exercise, fresh air and sun, and uncomplicated beauty practices.

Italian Inheritance

I reached out to my Italian friend, Camilla Gaudioso, to discuss this topic, and we found many similarities in our Mediterranean upbringings. Camilla told me about her mother’s lasting beauty:

“She never put on makeup — maybe if she was going out, but not every day. Our generation (early Generation Z) is still from the past, like our grandmothers and our mothers. The new generations are more influenced by TikTok and social media in general. With makeup, you’re just hiding your face. I prefer to use less makeup and remain myself. My parents always told me, don’t put on a lot of makeup — first of all, for your skin, but also for yourself. You have to accept yourself for who you are.”

This echoed what I was always taught. As my mother said, “Less is more.” She taught me that mascara, concealer, and a pair of nice earrings were my “uniform” as a teenager. I was encouraged to invest more care in my habits than in covering acne or “imperfections.” The challenge is that these habits take months — even years — to show results. There is no miracle product.

Camilla also shared her observations on this:

“We are more natural than girls who are 13 or 14 years old. I see so many of them wearing heavy makeup, with long nails and styled hair — everything so different from who they really are.”

American vs Italian Approaches to Beauty

Her words made me reflect on the cultural differences between countries. Consider the contrast between what we often refer to as “American makeup” — full glam — and the more understated “French makeup.” It may seem trivial, but I don’t think it is. Everything we put on our skin — makeup, creams, serums — is made in a lab with chemicals.

I think of my mother's reminder: “Your skin absorbs everything. What you put on your skin is as important as what you eat.”

This isn’t to say that science is bad — it isn’t. But chemicals interact in complex ways, and different skin types react differently. A 60-second video from an influencer can’t possibly explain those nuances.

Many dermatologists warn about the risks of overusing beauty products. In an interview with Grove, Dr. Anna H. Chacon, an Ivy League–educated dermatologist, explained:

“Your skin is absorbent, but it has its limits. Using fewer products ensures better absorption and effectiveness of the ingredients you’re putting on your skin.”

Mixing too many products can cause irritation or even harm. That’s why she recommends using products that target more than one concern at a time — a principle that aligns beautifully with the Mediterranean mentality of keeping things simple.

Diets and Beauty

Camilla and I also discussed how diet shapes our beauty. I’m always amazed by Spain’s high quality of life and long life expectancy — nearly 84 years — which I believe comes from being taught early on the value of exercise, healthy eating, and especially olive oil.

Countless studies show the Mediterranean diet’s benefits for overall health, but it also profoundly impacts beauty. Eating whole foods, healthy fats, fiber, plenty of vegetables and fruit, and of course, olive oil, nourishes both skin and hair. Our meals are rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-dense foods that support gut health — and the gut is deeply connected to skin through the Gut–Skin Axis. When gut bacteria are imbalanced, common skin issues like acne can arise. No skincare routine can compensate if inner health is neglected.

Olive oil — or liquid gold, as we call it in Spain — is one of our greatest beauty allies. Packed with antioxidants and vitamins A, D, E, and K, it moisturizes and repairs the skin barrier, improves elasticity, reduces wrinkles, and protects against premature aging. It works beautifully as a natural makeup remover or as a hair mask for hydration.

The Mediterranean Difference

Even the so-called “Clean Girl” trend reflects this Mediterranean mindset: hydrated skin, well-cared-for natural hair, simple makeup, and a focus on eating well and exercising. But this is nothing new — it’s simply what generations before us have always practiced.

So, what sets Mediterranean beauty apart? For me, it’s the mindset. In much of modern culture, we’ve been taught to buy beauty by faking it. In Mediterranean cultures, we’re taught that beauty begins within. It doesn’t matter how many products or treatments you invest in if you don’t first invest in yourself. Healthy eating will make you glow from the inside out. Using fewer — but better — products will protect your skin and hair, allowing you to age gracefully. And, of course, olive oil remains our number one beauty secret.